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“The Video Itself is Damning”: Blake Lively Responds to Justin Baldoni’s Released Footage

Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni
Photo by Getty Images

Blake Lively has publicly addressed the controversy surrounding her allegations of s*xual harassment against Justin Baldoni, actor and director of “It Ends With Us.” Her statement comes after Baldoni and his legal team released unedited footage from the movie’s set, aiming to support his defense, reported by PEOPLE.

Lively, 37, accused Baldoni, 40, of creating an uncomfortable and inappropriate environment during the filming process. The released video captures three takes of a dance scene between the two actors, which Lively claims highlight her discomfort and Baldoni’s unprofessional behavior.

“The video itself is damning,” Lively’s lawyer stated to TMZ, countering Baldoni’s efforts to mitigate the allegations by presenting the raw footage. According to her legal team, the footage shows Baldoni “repeatedly leaning in toward Ms. Lively, attempting to kiss her, kissing her forehead, rubbing his face and mouth against her neck, flicking his lip with his thumb, caressing her, telling her how good she smells, and talking with her out of character.”

Lively’s legal representatives emphasize that the interactions captured were not part of the choreography. “Every moment of this was improvised by Mr. Baldoni with no discussion or consent in advance, and no intimacy coordinator present,” the statement added. This lack of professional boundaries, they argue, contributed to an uncomfortable and unprofessional atmosphere on set.

Furthermore, Lively’s lawyer highlighted Baldoni’s multiple roles on the set, noting, “Mr. Baldoni was not only Ms. Lively’s co-star, but the director, the head of the studio, and Ms. Lively’s boss.” This power dynamic, according to the legal team, exacerbated the impact of Baldoni’s actions on Lively.

The footage also reportedly shows Lively “repeatedly asking for the characters to just talk,” underscoring her attempts to maintain professionalism and distance herself from Baldoni’s advances. “Any woman who has been inappropriately touched in the workplace will recognize Ms. Lively’s discomfort,” the statement continued, highlighting the broader issue of unwanted physical contact in professional settings.

Lively’s team condemned the release of the footage as “another example of an unethical attempt to manipulate the public” and described it as “a continuation of their harassment and retaliatory campaign.” They assert that the legal battle should take place in court, not through “manufactured media stunts.”

“We are continuing our efforts to require Mr. Baldoni and his associates to answer in court, under oath, rather than through manufactured media stunts,” Lively’s lawyer concluded, reaffirming their commitment to pursuing justice through proper legal channels.

As the case progresses, Blake Lively remains steadfast in her allegations, supported by her legal team’s detailed account of the incidents captured in the released footage. The situation underscores the importance of addressing and preventing s*xual harassment in the workplace, particularly in environments with significant power imbalances.

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